Francis Malcolm Science Center
2022 Fall Outdoor Program Offerings

Welcome to the Francis Malcolm Science Center Outdoor Program.  Bring your class, scout group, or afterschool program to the Center this fall to enjoy and learn more about nature while hiking one of our trails. All the programs listed below can be adapted to any grade level and adjusted to fit your curriculum.  Please allow an hour and a half to two hours for each program.*

Flip, Float, Fly! Seeds on the Move:

Let’s explore the various ways that seeds are spread while hiking on the Plantation Trail. Along the way we will create a poster that explains methods used by plants to spread their seeds as they flip, float, and fly to new places. We will also examine what elements are needed to sprout new plants from the seeds.

What’s Natural? What’s Not?

The Plantation Trail winds through a forest ecosystem. This special ecosystem provides its plants and animals with both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements that are needed for survival. Let’s explore these elements as we hike the trail creating a chart of the biotic and abiotic elements we find.

Become a Tree Hugger:

Do you know the difference between deciduous and coniferous trees? Both can be found on the grounds of the Science Center. Learn how to identify these differences and explore specific species of trees that fall in each category as we hike the grounds. Develop your own tree identification key.

Birds! Birds! Birds!

Come visit our Bird Sanctuary! Make a simple feeder to leave for the birds. As you sit in the sanctuary, listen and watch chickadees, nuthatches, or blue jays. What adaptations have these birds developed to live in this habitat in order for them to survive? We will hike the Plantation Trail and complete a Scavenger Hunt identifying the adaptations the birds have made to their habitat.

Take a Hike:

Come enjoy nature and get some exercise too! While hiking one of the trails, we will talk about Leave No Trace Ethics. Using your senses of smell, touch, sight, and hearing we will identify cool things in nature. Complete a Scavenger Hunt and maybe even create a piece of nature art.

*Each one of the above programs can be adapted to the grade/ages of the group attending. If you don’t see a program listed here that fits your needs, we can work together to develop one. Please let us know at least two weeks in advance of the date you would like to come to help us prepare. We do ask that student and adult attendees complete an Exit Ticket after each visit to help us better our programming.

Outdoor programs are being led by volunteers, Elaine Hendrickson and Suzanne Beaudet. Elaine is a retired middle school educator, 2001 Maine Teacher of the Year, and an outdoor enthusiast. Suzanne is a retired Professor of Exercise Science from UMPI who ran the outdoor education lab and has been a camp counselor and an outdoor educator for the Girl Scouts for 60+ years.

For more information or to register, contact Elaine Hendrickson at [email protected] or through messenger on the Francis Malcolm Facebook page.